A.A.D. Multimode

NATO Stock Number (NSN) 1377-13-119-7112

Vigil®2+ User's Manual US v 2+.0.1 May 2014

Please carefully read and ensure that you fully understand this user’s manual before any use of the Vigil®2+. YOU MUST ALSO READ, FULLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THE DISCLAIMER AND LIMITED WARRANTY PRIOR TO USING THE VIGIL®2+. IF YOU DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS OF THE DISCLAIMER AND LIMITED WARRANTY, YOU MUST NOT USE THE VIGIL®2+. YOU MAY RETURN IT, IN ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING, FOR A FULL REFUND. YOUR USE OF THE VIGIL®2+ IN THE EQUIPMENT YOU USE FOR MAKING A PARACHUTE JUMP IS CONCLUSIVE PROOF THAT YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS OF THE DISCLAIMER AND LIMITED WARRANTY.

The Vigil is endorsed by:

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AAD NV/SA. - Advanced Aerospace Designs Bld A. Reyers 193 • B-1030 Brussels • Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 732 65 52 • Fax: +32 (0)2 736 06 27 e-mail: [email protected] • website: www.vigil.aero

Vigil America Inc. 1400 Flightline Blvd. Suite C DeLand, FL 32724 USA Tel: +(1)386 736 8464 Fax: +(1)386 736 8468 e-mail: [email protected]

Vigil Far East Nam Fong Industrial Building Block 1 227 R/C Avenida Vencelau de Morais Macau Hong Kong: Tel: +(852) 660 30 710 Singapore: Tel: +(65) 8431 8028 [email protected]

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Table of contents Page

Paragraph VIGIL 2+

1 2 3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3

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3.4 3.5 3.5.1 3.5.2 3.5.3 3.5.4 3.5.5 3.5.6 3.5.7 3.5.8 3.5.9

Warning + Disclaimer and limited warranty (see page 37-39) Welcome to the Vigil®2+ World! Introduction Function General Working Principle Installation The Three Activation Modes “PRO” Mode “STUDENT” Mode “TANDEM” Mode Information regarding the Activation Altitude Start Up and Shut Down Procedures Start Up – Display Starting Up the Vigil®2+ Self Tests «SETUP» Menu (Parameters) - Altitude correction Using a positive altitude correction to raise the activation altitude. «INFO» Menu (Information) «CONFIG» Menu (Configuration) Choice confirmation Shut Down

4 5 7 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 10 12 12 13 13 15 16 18 19 20 21

Paragraph 4.1 5 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 6 7 7.1 7.2 7.3 8 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 9 10 11

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Page Flight Restriction for the Pilot - Airborne Recommendations Vigil®2+ Components Main Box Dual Battery Pack Pulses Plus Element Electronic Unit Cutter Unit Control Unit Waterproof - IP68 Replacement of Parts of the Vigil®2+ Replacing the Battery Pack Replacing the Cutter or Control Unit Service Card Technical Specifications Glossary Dimensions Operating Description Units and conversion factors Communication Port – IR Download Box Service life limit of Vigil®2+ units Disclaimer and limited warranty Road Map / Grafcet (Parameter Sequence Flow Chart)

22 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 28 29 29 29 30 32 34 34 35 35 35 36 37 37 41

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3

wARNING

SKYDIVING IS A DANGEROUS ACTIVITY, AND YOU RISK MINOR OR SERIOUS PERMANENT INJURY OR DEATH

VIGIL 2+

EACH TIME YOU SKYDIVE. THE CORRECT USE OF THE VIGIL® AAD MAY REDUCE THIS RISK, HOWEVER, THERE ARE SITUATIONS IN WHICH A VIGIL® AAD MAY NOT REDUCE, AND MAY ACTUALLY INCREASE, THE RISK. THE VIGIL® IS A BACKUP DEVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT SAVE YOUR LIFE, AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO NEVER RELY ON THE VIGIL® AS A LIFESAVING DEVICE. PRIOR TO USING THE VIGIL®, IT IS IMPORTANT TO READ THE VIGIL®2+ USER’S MANUAL VERY CAREFULLY. ALWAYS OBSERVE ALL WARNINGS, AND FOLLOW ALL MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SAFETY PROCEDURES. ALWAYS FOLLOW CORRECT OPENING PROCEDURES AND, IF NECESSARY, EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. NEVER SKYDIVE UNLESS YOU ARE FULLY TRAINED AND COMPETENT IN THE USE OF ALL OF YOUR EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING THE VIGIL®.

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The Vigil®2+ is equipped with an integrated Piezo resistive barometric pressure sensor. Do not expose your Vigil®2+ to pressures above 3000 hPa, (45.5 psi), or to temperatures above 158°F (70°C). The battery pack is designed to operate within a temperature range from -13°F to +158°F (-25°C to +70°C).

DISCLAIMER AND LIMITED WARRANTY

see pages 37 - 39.

 You must switch ON your Vigil®2+ ONLY at the take-off zone (reference altitude or ground zero).  If you intend to change to a different drop zone, switch OFF your Vigil®2+ before travelling, and switch it back ON at the new drop zone, before take-off.

 Before each jump it is essential to visually check your LCD screen to ensure its functionality, its activation mode (“PRO”, “STUDENT” or “TANDEM”) and its pre-selected parameters (altitude correction in feet or in meters) are correctly set.

NEVER JUMP WITH A BLANK LCD SCREEN ON YOUR Vigil®2+ !!

1. Welcome to the Vigil®2+ World!

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We congratulate you on your purchase of today’s most sophisticated and modern, multimode Automatic Activation Device. It is a revolutionary safety device, with no imposed maintenance schedule. The Vigil®2+ will automatically check all of its functional features each time it is switched on. The Vigil®2+ will detect any anomalies by itself. Should an abnormality be found, the controler will display an error message (see page 13 § 3.5.3.), and the Vigil®2+ unit will not switch on. In this case, the Vigil®2+ needs to be analyzed by an authorized dealer, or sent back to the factory for analysis. The Vigil®2+ is designed for a life expectancy of maximum 20 years from the date of manufacture. The above life expectancy is based on the fact that the cutter, the Pulses Plus element and the electronic components have been designed for a functional lifetime of 20 years. The Vigil®2+ is very user friendly. It can be used in your choice of 3 activation modes: “PRO”, “STUDENT” or “TANDEM”. The Vigil®2+, an ALL-IN-ONE Automatic Activation Device (AAD) will also work in U.S. or metric standards units. When traveling on any commercial flight with your Vigil®2+, this manual - as well as the Vigil X-Ray Card should accompany you. It contains explanations that will be useful to the airport security staff. The most recent manual is available on the Vigil website at http://www.vigil.aero/ on the download page.

The Vigil®2+ is, in principle, a last resort safety device, which may or may not save your life. It has never been intended to be, and is not to be used as, a parachute’s primary opening system. The procedures written in this manual must be followed to ensure that the Vigil®2+ functions properly. Incorrect setup or use can lead to improper functioning of the Vigil®2+. A skydiver should always adhere to all rules and regulations set by his/her country’s skydiving federation. The use of a Vigil®2+ AAD does not exempt the parachutist from performing proper emergency procedures. ALTHOUGH VIGIL®s HAVE SAVED MANY LIVES, NEVER RELY ON THE VIGIL® TO SAVE YOUR LIFE, IT MAY NOT DO SO IN SOME SITUATIONS.

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VIGIL 2+

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2. Introduction

The Vigil®2+ also has a data recorder function (black box). The unit memorizes the last 16 minutes of freefall time (with a maximum of 16 graphs, whichever is reached first), total time in freefall and total number of jumps. This data can be viewed directly from the control unit’s LCD display, or it can be downloaded to a PC through an infrared communication port. The infrared reader and the associated software are available as an option (see page 36 § 9). The “2 wire” technology and the Kevlar reinforced cabling were especially developed for the Vigil®2+ and deliver a unique combination of strength and flexibility. The gold plated contacts and the locking system with a special locking clip on the connectors ensure optimal connection reliability in all circumstances. The control unit:

- is equipped with a 26 x 96 dots LCD display which allows interactive and clear communication with the parachutist. - is protected by a special anti-scratch coating and a stainless steel protection cover.

The electromagnetic shield protects the Vigil®2+ from electromagnetic interferences, such as those found in airports and airplanes (see page 25 § 5.1).

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Your Vigil®2+ was designed and developed by a professional team of engineers and skydivers. Its function is to cut the reserve closing loop in the event that you reach a freefall speed at an unsafe altitude. The flat aluminum alloy box is exceptionally strong; its ergonomic design fits easily into most current rigs. A Vigil®2+ installation kit (pouch, controller window and cutter retainer) can be supplied to rig manufacturers, on demand. The Vigil®2+ can be used for three types of skydiving by pushing just one button. These user programmable modes are: «PRO», «STUDENT» or «TANDEM».

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3. Function

3.1. General Working Principle:

VIGIL 2+

The Vigil®2+ must only be turned on at ground level; it will calibrate itself every 32 sec. progressively to the current ground elevation pressure. This is the “GROUND ZERO” reference. Once your Vigil®2+ is on, at each take-off it will become armed once 1000 ft above “ground zero” reference is reached, if no or a positive altitude correction is applied. When a negative altitude correction is set, the Vigil®2+ will become armed 1000 ft above the preset negative altitude correction, so if the negative altitude correction is over 1000 ft, the Vigil®2+ will become armed maximum 32 sec. after you have reached 90 ft above the “GROUND ZERO” reference (take off location). WHEN A NEGATIVE ALTITUDE CORRECTION IS APPLIED, IT IS MANDATORY THAT THE AIRCRAFT REMAINS AT LEAST 90 ft ABOVE THE GROUND ZERO REFERENCE (take-off zone) FOR AT LEAST 32 SECONDS. THIS ALLOWS VIGIL®2+ TO CHANGE FROM STAND-BY TO FAST MEASURING STATUS. 8

In freefall, the Vigil®2+ starts to continuously calculate the leftover time to reach the activation altitude. When this altitude (or lower) is reached by the jumper at equal or superior speed compared to the factory-set parameters, the cutter of the Vigil®2+ will instantly fire and cut the closing loop of your emergency parachute (